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7 thoughts on “HUMILITY – Day 5 of The One Word Devotional”

One of my favorite texts that immediately comes to mind with the word humility. No matter how many times I think on this, I am amazed at the humility of Christ. The way He lived His life here on earth is such a wonderful example of humility, but even more astounding to me is that He DID live a life here on earth, in human flesh. He not only left His heavenly throne to do this, but even submitted to beginning His life here as a newborn baby – placing Himself in the hands of others for His food, warmth, hygiene … for everything. Yep, I’m amazed. Oh, to be like Him.

Philippians 2:1-11
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Be Like Christ

2 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

I keep thinking about one of Oswald Chambers’ themes–that we’re to be broken bread and poured out wine, giving over to God everything we are with the understanding that God will use it (or not!) where and when God wills. I love the way this connects with what Jesus did humbly on our behalf. Letting go of everything, including any truly grand ideas he might have had about how God might best use his (Jesus’) sacrifice. Definitely a challenge for me–joining the everyday human race instead of trying to be one of God’s advisors or to play God for a Day. Somehow all of this helps me understand a bit about what humility looks like and might feel like.
Elouise

The Oswald Chambers piece you mention is one of my absolute favorites. “If we are ever going to be made into wine, we will have to be crushed—you cannot drink grapes. Grapes become wine only when they have been squeezed.”

I too am amazed by the humility of Christ. As God, he came to this world as a child — had to rely on others for everything in the beginning, fell down and scraped his knees, felt hunger, sorrow, and anger.

I also thought of humbleness — and the false humility many of us display as Christians because we believe that’s how we are supposed to be. I don’t see ANY evidence of Christ displaying false humility — it was just who he was. He didn’t expect any recognition for the way he lived. He was trying to demonstrate in the flesh what is was like to think of others as greater than yourself. Because NO ONE was greater than he. Yet he didn’t claim any worldly comforts.